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Woody Harrelson gives two Canadians an off-Broadway break in Bullet for Adolf

By Kelly Cameron Special to the Star

Sun., Aug. 5, 2012

What are two nice Canadian boys doing in one of the raunchiest plays to hit off-Broadway in years, making jokes about eating placenta stew and pleasuring themselves to photos from National Geographic?

Blame Woody Harrelson.

David Coomber and Brandon Coffey are the Canadian stars of Woody Harrelson's play, Bullet for Adolf, opening off-Broadway this week. (MICHAEL JORGENSEN photo)

The well-known Hollywood star cast David Coomber and Albertan Brandon Coffey in last year’s Toronto tryout of his autobiographical play, Bullet for Adolf (which Harrelson also directed) and liked them enough to bring them to New York, where it opens Wednesday.

Harrelson wrote the play in collaboration with old friend Frankie Hyman about a “life-changing” summer he spent in Houston in 1983. Coffey and Coomber are recreating their original roles of Zach (the character meant to represent Harrelson) and Clint (Zach’s outrageous, socially awkward roommate).

It’s more than a little ironic that two actors who hail from what is arguably the most polite country in the world are now delivering lines that would make the most experienced theatregoer blush.

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Before an evening performance at New World Stages, Ottawa native Coomber jokes that he’s teased for “the way I say ‘sorry,’ ” and Coffey talks about missing his friends in Toronto “more than anything.”

If they seem young and eager, it’s because they are. Both were pretty green in show business terms when Harrelson cast them in the 2011 Hart House production of his play.

But since then Coomber in particular has moved quickly, touring Canada last fall and winter opposite Jim Mezon in the Canadian Stage production of Red. But he still finds it amazing to be opening in New York.

As the only two members of the Canadian cast to move with the show to New York, they have a lot of prove. They’re aware of that as they discuss leaving their Toronto co-stars behind.

“The Toronto cast was like a family that we all created,” Coffey says. “As hard as it is to come to NYC without them, you have to remember that you have a career to think about and turning down this opportunity would be crazy.”

But Coomber is quick to add that “the show wouldn’t be what it is without our Toronto co-stars. There are echoes of Toronto in every character.”

Coffey, originally from Alberta, is visiting New York for the very first time: “I didn’t even have a passport when I was cast. Woody worked so hard to get us down here, which we hope is a testament to the work we’re doing.”

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They’ve fallen hard for the Big Apple. “It’s the first place where I’ve felt immediately at home, like I could spend the rest of my life here,” Coffey says.

Coomber radiates joy as he discusses his thriving Washington Heights neighbourhood: “It’s so alive. There’s always a street party and beats coming out of cars. I love it.”

What of the pressure of portraying real-life characters based on such recognizable figures as Harrelson?

“I know people are coming to see this because it’s Woody’s show, and there’s that added bit of ‘Who is that guy they chose to play him?’ ” says Coffey. “But when I’m onstage I can’t think about the pressure. It’s like playing sports. You practise and you practise, but when it’s game time you have to let it all go.”

Adds Coomber: “The audiences here have been incredible because they’re so vocal. They let you know what they like and what they don’t like. You can’t lie to them for a second.”

The two Canadian boys miss Mill Street Organic beer and “Canadian-sized” pints, but they continue to embrace their new home.

Asked the best part of the journey so far, Coffey says, “I think the best is yet to come.”

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